New England -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
Suddenly, toward the end of that month, at the very moment when they
were debating questions of defense, an Indian walked boldly into the
settlement, and bade them welcome in English. The savage, Samoset by
name, proceeded to give them much useful information about the natives,
and from him, apparently, the settlers first learned of the great
mortaliy among them. After spending the night, he was dismissed with
gifts, promising to bring others of the natives with him on his return.
This he did a few days later, the savages bringing with them some tools
which they had stolen a while before, and which they now restored. A
week later, Samoset and another Indian, named Squanto, who was the only
survivor of the group which had dwelt where the Pilgrims had settled,
came to announce the arrival of the great sachem himself, Massasoit.
With him, the settlers made a treaty of peace and friendship, which was
honorably maintained on both sides for over half a century, the Indian
proving himself a loyal friend to the English until his death in
1662.[231]
Footnote 231:
The treaty is in Bradford, _Plymouth_, pp. 94 _ff._ The minor
incidents in connection with Plymouth in this chapter, when references
are not given, are all taken from Bradford, or Bradford and Winslow,
the latter as given in Young's _Chronicles_.
The sachem's visit was returned in July, Winslow and Hopkins making the
journey of forty miles, with the ever-useful Squanto as guide. During
the summer, the colonists were joined also by another Indian, Hobomack,
who made his home with them, and continued faithful during his life. In
spite of some minor troubles, due to the childish jealousy and desire to
appear important on the part of the two savages, the debt that the
settlers owed to them cannot be overestimated. They not only served as
interpreters and intermediaries with the other Indians, but taught the
colonists how to plant and manure the native corn and where to catch
fish, acted as guides about the country, and made themselves generally
invaluable. These services were not regarded wholly with favor by some
of the Indians who were opposed to the whites, and the settlers had to
teach the sachem Corbitant a sharp lesson, to make them leave their two
Indian friends alone.[232]
Footnote 232:
Bradford, _Plymouth_, pp. 102 _ff._; Young, _Chronicles_, pp. 202-14,
218-23.
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